In its statement, Google said it valued the discussion the demonstration had fostered and said “transparency” around the use of the technology was important.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We are designing this feature with disclosure built-in, and we’ll make sure the system is appropriately identified,” it said.

The on-stage unveiling involved the Duplex software conducting a conversation with a hair salon receptionist. The computer-generated voice used pauses, colloquialisms and circumlocutions usually present in human speech.

The voice was under control of Google’s DeepMind WaveNet software that has been trained using lots of conversations so it knows what humans sound like and can mimic them effectively.

Isaac Kaledzi is an experienced and award winning journalist from Ghana. He has worked for several media brands both in Ghana and on the International scene. Isaac Kaledzi is currently serving as an African Correspondent for DW.